To celebrate the release of 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple — a film we are… let’s say cautiously sceptical about — we decided not to review it at all.

Instead, we’re heading back to where it all began: Danny Boyle and Alex Garland’s grimy, raw, pulse-pounding horror classic 28 Days Later, the film that kicked off this apparently new franchise and redefined fast, angry “infected” (they are not zombies, thank you very much).

We pit it against another lonely, end-of-the-world favourite: I Am Legend — a glossy Hollywood blockbuster with a very different take on isolation, survival, and yelling at mannequins.

Same ruined world. Very different vibes.

One is documentary-style, bleak and uncomfortably real.

The other is big-budget, star-powered and unapologetically cinematic.

But which one actually does it better?

To find out, we put both films through our highly rigorous, completely unbiased, definitely scientific scoring system. Four categories. Five points each. No vibes. Just facts™.

• Story & Emotional Impact
• Craft & Tone
• World-Building
• Tension & Set-Pieces

The overall winner takes home the prestigious, imaginary trophy for Best Zombie (Sorry, Infected) Movie.

What better time to get spooky than January? Other than that other horror month of course.

Press play, lock the doors, and join us as civilisation collapses - again.

FULL SPOILERS FOR 28 DAYS LATER AND I AM LEGEND IN THIS EPISODE. You have been warned.

Agree with our scores? What would you score these films? We want to know!

Email us at thirdreelpod@gmail.com or through the socials @third_reel_pod

https://linktr.ee/thirdreelpod

Support our Patreon for more TTR! https://patreon.com/thirdreelpod

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00:00 - Preamble

00:09:51 - Category 1: Story & Emotional Impact

00:48:53 - Category 2: Craft & Tone

01:06:54 - Category 3: World-Building

01:23:32 - Category 4: Tension & Set-Pieces

01:43:55 - Final Scores

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Since we somehow managed the impossible — turning Rachael from a Florence Pugh sceptic into a fully-fledged Florence Pugh celebrator — we’ve been on the hunt for our next great conversion. And while Rachael is usually the easy target (she apparently hates half of Hollywood), we thought we’d mix things up and turn our attention to Dale… who has one very specific cinematic prejudice.

Against Keira Knightley.

Yes. Elizabeth-Swann-Bend-It-Like-Beckham-Actual-National-Treasure Keira Knightley. And you could even say that Dale’s dislike is less Pride and a whole lot more… Prejudice.

So in this episode of Make Me a Fan Of…, Rachael and Daniel each bring a Keira Knightley film to the table in a bold, valiant, possibly doomed attempt to turn Dale from Keira-Knightley-Doubter into Keira-Knightley-Enjoyer. Can the team make it 2 for 2 on opinion-shifting? One thing’s certain — Dale is much more stubborn than Rachael, so this one might go down to the wire.

This format has become one of the most beloved in our little podcast universe (turns out we all love a bit of emotional peer pressure), so you can expect more of these in the future… though probably featuring Rachael more than anyone else. Dan just seems to like everyone.

And to set the mood, we leave you with the immortal words of Elizabeth Swann herself:

Keira Knightley. Icon. Corset Queen. But will she become Dale-Approved™?

Stick around to the end to find out whether three carefully-chosen films are enough to change a mind — or whether Dale remains unmoved, like a particularly grumpy Mr Darcy in the rain.

What actor/director do you have a dislike of that you want to see covered? We want to know!

Email us at thirdreelpod@gmail.com or through TikTok and Instagram @third_reel_pod

https://linktr.ee/thirdreelpod

Support our Patreon for more TTR! https://patreon.com/thirdreelpod

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00:00 - Preamble

00:07:31 - The Debate

00:31:32 - The Films

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Welcome to the first chaos of 2026 — it’s our annual deep dive into the year ahead in cinema! We’re breaking down the films that have got us excited, confused, or mildly panicked, from epic space odysseys to superhero overload.

This year, Nolan returns with a mind-bending spectacle that promises headaches and awe in equal measure. Spielberg’s back in sci-fi, Denis Villeneuve is rounding off his Dune trilogy, and yes… there’s more superhero madness than you can shake a cape at. We’re talking trailers, teasers, and all the film gossip that tickles our pickle (and maybe yours).

A quick note: schedules and release dates change on a whim, so what we’re talking about is accurate at the time of recording — don’t get mad if things shift! Also, the recording goes a bit sideways for Daniel near the end, so you’ll miss a couple of his opinions on two December films — sorry, Daniel.

On top of all that, we’re showing off our brand-new cover art and launching our brand-new Patreon, where you can support the podcast and get exclusive content. Big year, big films, big chaos — and now a big new way to join the fun.

Laughs, ironic commentary, and mild arguments guaranteed — all while we rank what we’re most anticipated to see in 2026. A new year, a new slate of cinema, and of course, the same chaotic three of us pretending we know what’s coming next.

Let us know your what you are excited to see in 2026!

Email us at thirdreelpod@gmail.com or through the socials @third_reel_pod

https://linktr.ee/thirdreelpod

TIMESTAMPS

00:00:00 - Preamble

00:11:34 - 2026's Most Anticipated

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Love a list? Good — because for our very last episode of 2025 we’re going out with a bang (and maybe a terrified scream). It’s our Top 10 Films of 2025 — SEO-friendly enough for the algorithm, chaotic enough for us. Each of us brings our own Top 10, but here’s the twist: we only talk about a film when it finally ranks highest on someone’s list. So yes — the suspense is real, the arguments are silly, and the hot takes are hotter than a prestige A24 horror poster lamp.

It’s been a huge year for cinema — some massive blockbusters, some tiny gems, and honestly? A big year for horror fans. But which films will claw their way to the top? Which “masterpiece” will cause the most chaos? And which beloved favourite will one of us totally hate for reasons that barely make sense?

Stick around for laughs, mild outrage, and a surprisingly heartfelt goodbye to 2025 — as we crown our personal Best Films of 2025.

Let us know your 2025 rankings!

Email us at thirdreelpod@gmail.com or through the socials @third_reel_pod

https://linktr.ee/thirdreelpod

TIMESTAMPS

00:00:00 - Preamble

00:06:44 - The Lists

02:05:00 - Honourable Mentions

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s Film Swap… but make it festive 🎄

This time, we’re diving into Christmas films, but not the usual suspects. No Home Alone, no Elf, no It’s a Wonderful Life. Instead, we’ve gone digging a little deeper into the Christmas vault… well, Dale and Dan did.

Rachael brings The Holiday — one of her all-time festive favourites — in a bold attempt to convert notorious The Holiday hater Dan. Can she finally thaw his icy heart, or will this one end up on his seasonal naughty list?

Dan, fresh off Halloween fever and still riding the wave of our 80s film draft, opts for Gremlins. Is it a Christmas movie? Yes. Is it also mildly traumatising? Also yes.

Meanwhile, Dale goes deep with Jack Frost. Yes, that Michael Keaton one. You know, where he dies and comes back as a snowman... Seriously.

Join us as we revisit these slightly obscure Christmas picks and ask the all-important question: do any of them deserve a permanent place in your yearly Christmas movie rotation?

Hot takes, festive chaos, and an extremely questionable snowman await.

Which theme do you want to see us tackle next? What's a film you'd bring to the table for this theme? Let us know!

Email us at thirdreelpod@gmail.com or through the socials @third_reel_pod

https://linktr.ee/thirdreelpod

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00:00 - Preamble

00:14:44 - Gremlins

00:32:55 - Jack Frost

00:46:45 - The Holiday

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Christmas is creeping ever closer—presents maybe bought, probably not wrapped, Baileys flowing like the Thames, decorations at full twinkle. And while you’re settling into the festive haze, we’re diving headfirst into the ultimate Christmas tale: Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. The man practically invented the modern Christmas… and yet somehow Hollywood keeps reinventing him. (And yes, because the universe demanded it, there’s even a brand-new Johnny Depp version on the way.)

We all adore The Muppet Christmas Carol here at TTR, but this year we’re taking the long road past Kermit and into the return of our Versus Series—pitting two adaptations that NONE of us had ever seen before. Bold? Foolish? Extremely on brand?

In the red corner: 1951’s Scrooge, starring Alastair Sim—widely hailed as the definitive Scrooge by Christmas purists.

And in the blue, motion-captured corner: Robert Zemeckis’ 2009 animated A Christmas Carol, featuring Jim Carrey playing… well… everyone.

Which film honours Dickens’ vision? Which is more entertaining? Who gives the superior “Bah Humbug”? And which one deserves a place on your festive rewatch list instead of being visited by the Ghost of Christmas Nope?

We break it all down in four categories:

🎭 Performance

📚 Faithfulness & Adaptation

🎨 Visual Representation

🎄 Entertainment

Each category scored out of 5 by each TTR host, with a final tally to crown the ultimate Christmas champion.

Grab your Baileys, wrap something (literally anything), and join us for a festive showdown of Dickensian proportions.

FULL SPOILERS FOR SCROOGE AND A CHRISTMAS CAROL IN THIS EPISODE. But you surely already know this story...

Agree with our scores? What would you score these films? We want to know!

Email us at thirdreelpod@gmail.com or through the socials @third_reel_pod

https://linktr.ee/thirdreelpod

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00:00 - Preamble

00:20:58 - Category 1: Performance

00:41:10 - Category 2: Faithfulness & Adaptation

00:53:27 - Category 3: Visual Representation

01:11:38 - Category 4: Entertainment

01:27:11 - Final Scores

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Can you believe it? Somehow, against all odds, missed upload windows, rogue microphones, and at least one near-existential crisis per host, we’ve made it to a full year of recording this wonderfully chaotic little podcast.

To mark the occasion, Dale takes the captain’s chair (steady yourselves) and fires a series of deeply investigative, hard-hitting questions at the other two — everything from our humble, slightly shambolic beginnings to the origins of our name, and even whether any of us seriously considered quitting along the way. Yes, we are doing a clip show!

We also peel back the curtain on how the whole circus actually works: from the first spark of an idea to the moment an episode finally, miraculously, appears in your feed. And to top it off, we drop some genuinely exciting news about what’s coming next as we roll into the new year — changes that might just make this podcast feel ever so slightly more legitimate.

Here’s to a year of laughter, questionable opinions, cinematic nonsense, and the unwavering belief that chatting about films is a personality trait. Onwards, upwards, and maybe even occasionally on time!

Email us at thirdreelpod@gmail.com or through the socials @third_reel_pod

https://linktr.ee/thirdreelpod

TIMESTAMPS

00:00:00 - Preamble

00:04:00 - Looking Back

01:06:26 - The Process

01:29:14 - Looking Forward

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Remember 2012? The year we almost got wiped out by a Mayan prophecy, everyone was suddenly doing the Gangnam Style dance, and the world collectively agreed that coloured skinny jeans were acceptable? Well, we’re diving straight back into that glorious fever dream.

Before we even get to the movies, we take a wander through our own personal histories of 2012—yes, the questionable fashion choices, the terrible haircuts, and the cultural moments we’d rather forget. Then we hop over to the big headlines and pop-culture buzz of the year, because nothing sets the mood for a nostalgic top-ten like reminding ourselves just how strange that year really was.

Then it’s list time. Each of us brings our personal Top 10 Films of 2012, counting down from ten to one… with one important rule: if a film appears higher up on someone else’s list, we zip it until it reaches its highest spot. (It’s tense. It’s dramatic. It’s the closest thing we’ll ever get to strategy on this podcast.)

Last time we did this—for 2010—Daniel and Dale basically had the same list in a slightly different order.

This time?

Oh no.

No, no, no.

Let’s just say the lists are… wildly different. Chaos reigns. Friendships are tested. Rachael judges everyone.

But at the end of all this, one film must stand victorious. Which 2012 masterpiece takes the crown?

Let us know your 2012 rankings!

Email us at thirdreelpod@gmail.com or through the socials @third_reel_pod

https://linktr.ee/thirdreelpod

All music used in this podcast is for commentary and review purposes under fair use. We give full credit to the original composers and right holders, and acknowledge that we do not own any of the music featured.

TIMESTAMPS

00:00:00 - Preamble

00:13:57 - The Lists

01:56:18 - Honourable Mentions

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.